My WinForms App finally talking to WebServices at Brinkster.com
Two days ago, I completed and successfully deployed an application using Windows Forms as a client to web services on our site hosted with Brinster.com. Its a typical database app where information about people are entered online. I managed to get .Net runtime into 5 (including mine) machines in our head office (where I sit) and also in one office in another city and the application is running just fine. Its so cool, now I can use a web host as my database server for my Windows applications.
Of course, deployment is no where as easy as using an ASP.NET solution. But since I am basically a Windows Application programmer, I can write windows applications much more quickly and its more interactive. I also incorporated a neat “Send Feedback” system where the user can send instant feedback to me. The feedback form also talks to a webservice which sends me mail using SMTP.
How it works : There is a bunch of Data Access Logic Components which is also exposed through WebServices, the WebService returns and accepts byte arrays only. These are actually objects serialized into byte arrays. This has been the best way I have found so far to pass objects between web services and windows application.